Millie and the Great Drought: A Dust Bowl Survival Story

In 1935, dust storms are sweeping across the southern plains of United States, including Oklahoma. Twelve-year-old Millie Horn is worried about her family’s survival. The Dust Bowl is getting worse, and her family is running out of food and money. Despite the hardships, Pa doesn’t want to abandon the farm, which has been in the family for generations. But when the worst black blizzard yet hits, they have no choice. The family decides to make the journey west, but life in California isn’t without struggle. Can Millie and her family survive the Dust Bowl and the hardships of the Great Depression? Readers can learn the real story of the Dust Bowl from nonfiction back matter in this Girls Survive story. A glossary, discussion questions, and writing prompts are also provided.